In North Carolina, drinking water quality standards are enforced by which agency?

• A. The Environmental Protection Agency
• B. The State Department of Health
• C. The Department of Agriculture
• D. The N.C. Division of Water Resources, PWSS

Answer: (D)

Enforcement of drinking water quality standards in North Carolina is carried out by the state's Public Water System Supervision program, housed in the N.C. Division of Water Resources. The federal Safe Drinking Water Act sets the overall standards and provides federal oversight, but the day-to-day enforcement—inspections, monitoring, and required corrective actions—is handled by this state program within the Division of Water Resources. In short, NC's PWSS program administers and enforces drinking water standards at the state level.